Economist Conferences – Greece

Reforming the state: Transformation of public administration in Greece

May 19th 2026 | Electra Palace, Thessaloniki, Greece

A new relationship with the citizens

Greece is entering a decisive phase in the reform and modernisation of its public administration, where efficiency, transparency and digital transformation are becoming central policy priorities. Strengthening institutional capacity and improving service delivery are key conditions for sustainable growth and for reinforcing the country’s position within a rapidly evolving European and international environment.

Within this framework, the Economist Impact event entitled “New Public Administration – A New Relationship with the Citizen” will explore how public administration reform is increasingly shaped by an outward-looking approach that emphasises knowledge exchange, international cooperation and the adoption of best practices. The role of international organisations, as well as structured partnerships with candidate countries and the private sector is essential in supporting effective governance and long-term institutional change.

The main pillars to be addressed during the conference include:

  • Public administration at the core of national reform priorities
  • Sharing experiences and common solutions for effective governance
  • From knowledge transfer to sustainable institutional change
  • The role of international organisations in supporting public sector reform
  • Enlargement through partnerships and cooperation with candidate countries and the private sector

In partnership with:

             

Speakers

Shlomo Ben Ami

Former minister of foreign affairs, Israel, Vice-president

Yanna Andronopoulou

General manager

Kostas Axarloglou

Dean and professor of international business and strategy

Alexandros Bregiannis

Chief executive

Nikolaos Dendias

Minister of national defence

Panagiotis Doudonis

MP, head of national list

Nikos Efthymiadis

Chairman & CEO

Alexandros Exarchou

Chairman and chief executive

Agenda

8:15 am

Registration – Welcome coffee

8:50 am

Welcome and introduction:

Welcome and introduction:
Alasdair Ross, countries editor, The Economist’s The World Ahead 
Eftichis Pallikaris, adviser, Powergame.gr

Alasdair Ross
Alasdair Ross Countries editor
Eftichis Pallikaris
Eftichis Pallikaris Adviser
9:00 am

Opening remarks:

Stathis Konstantinidis, deputy minister of interior, responsible for Macedonia-Thrace, Greece
Konstantinos Zervas, mayor of Thessaloniki, Greece

Konstantinos Zervas
Konstantinos Zervas Mayor
9:15 am

THE GREEK GOVERNMENT’S NEW ECONOMIC POLICY

Keynote address:

Kostis Hatzidakis, minister for national economy and finance, Greece

Kostis Hatzidakis
Kostis Hatzidakis Deputy prime minister
9:30 am

Discussion

9:45 am

FINANCE, GROWTH AND RRF

● New employment benefits & Greece’s economy
● Fintech and economic growth: moving forward?

Adonis Georgiadis, minister of labour and social welfare, Greece
Konstantinos Kollias
, president, Economic Chamber of Greece
Alex Katsaros, CEO, TopFX Group

Adonis Georgiadis
Adonis Georgiadis Minister of health
Konstantinos Kollias
Konstantinos Kollias President
Alex Katsaros
Alex Katsaros CEO
10:10 am

Discussion

10:30 am

BUILDING DEPENDABLE ENERGY PARTNERSHIPS IN THE REGION

Government strategy on energy projects
● An update from the Alexandroupoli FSRU project
● Energy security and supply in Europe in the current geopolitical landscape

Theodoros Skylakakis, minister of environment and energy, Greece (via connection)
Victor Parlicov, minister of energy, Moldova (via connection)
Shlomo Ben Ami, former minister of foreign affairs, Israel, vice-president, Toledo International Centre for Peace 


● The business perspective
Teodora Georgieva, executive officer, ICGB

Victor Parlicov
Victor Parlicov Minister of energy
Shlomo Ben Ami
Shlomo Ben Ami Former minister of foreign affairs, Israel, Vice-president
Teodora Georgieva
Teodora Georgieva Executive officer
11:10 am

Discussion

11:30 am

GOVERNMENT'S PRIORITIES AND THE PATHWAY FOR FUTURE REFORMS

The Economist in dialogue with:
Akis Skertsos, minister of state, Greece (via connection)

Akis Skertsos
Akis Skertsos Minister of state
11:40 am

Break

12:15 pm

NORTHERN GREECE: A POTENTIAL TECH PIONEER AND HUB

Greek youth as a game changer for Thessaloniki and beyond
● Policies, resources and incentives ● The new tech hub: how much progress has been made?
● Digital nomads are here to stay ● Social networks and smart cities

Konstantinos Kyranakis, deputy minister of digital governance, Greece 
Yanna Andronopoulou
, general manager, Microsoft Greece, Cyprus and Malta
Vagelis Gorilas
, head of public sector, Vodafone Greece
Alexandros Bregiannis, CEO, Nova ICT
Kostas Axarloglou, dean and professor of international business and strategy, Alba Graduate Business School, The American College of Greece

Alexandros Bregiannis
Alexandros Bregiannis Chief executive
Kostas Axarloglou
Kostas Axarloglou Dean and professor of international business and strategy
12:45 pm

Discussion

1:05 pm

STRENGTHENING GREEK-ISRAELI TIES THROUGH INNOVATION

Uzy Zwebner, founder and CEO, BaseCamp, co-founder, High Tech Park, Beer Sheva, Israel 
Itai Green, founder and CEO, Innovate Israel 
Nikos Efthymiadis, chairman & CEO, Thess INTEC

Uzy Zwebner
Uzy Zwebner Founder and CEO, BaseCamp, co-founder
Itai Green
Itai Green Founder and chief executive
Nikos Efthymiadis
Nikos Efthymiadis Chairman & CEO
1:25 pm

Discussion

1:40 pm

INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION AS DRIVERS OF GROWTH

The government’s strategy for effective and safe transportation
● New projects in the pipeline
● Projects in the fields of mobility and connectivity

Christos Staikouras, minister of infrastructure and transport, Greece

● The business response

Alexandros Exarchou, vice-chairman of the BoD and CEO, Intrakat
Antonis Mitzalis, executive director, AVAX Group

Georgios Lioumpis
, vice-chairman of the BoD & general manager, SKY express
Commentator: Fotis Kollias, director, Powergame.gr

Christos Staikouras
Christos Staikouras Former minister of finance
Antonis Mitzalis
Antonis Mitzalis Εxecutive director
Fotis Kollias
Fotis Kollias Director
2:10 pm

Discussion

2:30 pm

Networking luncheon

3:30 pm

NEW HORIZONS IN GREECE’S POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Education and the economy: How is Greece performing in relation to the rest of Europe?
● Youth income policies: An update

Pavlos Marinakis, government spokesperson, secretary of the political committee, New Democracy
Dimitris Mantzos, MP, parliamentary representative, PASOK-Kinima Allagis political party

Pavlos Marinakis
Pavlos Marinakis Deputy minister to the prime minister of Greece and government spokesperson
Dimitris Mantzos
Dimitris Mantzos MP and parliamentary representative
3:40 pm

Discussion

3:50 pm

EUROPE’S POLITICAL TRENDS IN TIMES OF GLOBAL UNCERTAINTY

Are the conservative values on the rise? 
● Focusing on the dividing lines between conservatives and progressives in today’s European politics


Makis Voridis, minister of state, Greece
Nikos Pappas, MP, Hellenic Parliament, SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance
Panagiotis Doudonis
, MP, head of national list, PASOK - Kinima Allagis

Moderator: Eftichis Pallikaris, adviser, Powergame.gr

Makis Voridis
Makis Voridis Minister of migration & asylum
Nikos Pappas
Nikos Pappas MP, Hellenic Parliament, leader of parliamentary group
Panagiotis Doudonis
Panagiotis Doudonis MP, head of national list
Eftichis Pallikaris
Eftichis Pallikaris Adviser
4:05 pm

Discussion

4:20 pm

STRENGTHENING US BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT TIES IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN: NEW EXPECTATIONS

Kostas Skrekas, minister of development, Greece 
Jerry Ismail
, consul general, U.S. Consulate General Thessaloniki

● The business perspective
Panagiotis Mourgos
, managing director, Texan Envipco Hellas Group

Jerry Ismail
Jerry Ismail Consul general
Panagiotis Mourgos
Panagiotis Mourgos Managing director
4:40 pm

Discussion

5:00 pm

GREECE’S INVESTMENT AND GROWTH PROSPECTS IN VIEW OF THE GREEN TRANSITION

Electricity and renewable energy projects in the pipeline
● The post-lignite strategy for Western Macedonia

Kostas Skrekas, minister of development, Greece 

● The business perspective

Ioannis Papadopoulos
, chairman of the board, DEPA Commercial 
Spyros Kiartzis, manager, new technologies & alternative energy sources, HELLENiQ ENERGY Group

Commentator: Antonis Metaxas, managing partner, Metaxas & Associates Law Firm

Ioannis Papadopoulos
Ioannis Papadopoulos President / CEO
Spyros Kiartzis
Spyros Kiartzis Manager, new technologies and alternative energy sources
Antonis Metaxas
Antonis Metaxas Managing partner
5:20 pm

Discussion

5:45 pm

End of day sessions

5:45 pm

Green awards ceremony

Ioannis Vellidis Room 1

8:15 pm

Cocktail reception

8:45 pm

Welcome remarks by the conference chair:

Alasdair Ross, countries editor, The Economist’s The World Ahead 

Opening remarks:
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, regional governor, Central Macedonia, first vice-president, 
European Committee of the Regions

Alasdair Ross
Alasdair Ross Countries editor
Apostolos Tzitzikostas
Apostolos Tzitzikostas European commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism
9:00 pm

GALA DINNER: THE OUTLOOK FOR EUROPE

● Southeast Europe & EU enlargement
● How is Europe’s future intertwined with the geopolitics of the region?
● Greece’s pivotal role in the region
● The importance of securing energy supply for Europe through shipping 

Nikos Dendias, minister of national defence, Greece

Dominique de Villepin, former prime minister of France 
Wess Mitchell, former US assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs, USA (via connection)

Dominique de Villepin
Dominique de Villepin Former prime minister
Wess Mitchell
Wess Mitchell Former US assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs; Principal
9:30 pm

Discussion

9:50 pm

Dinner is served

Sponsors

Delegrate registration

If you are interested in attending the event as a guest,

please contact Ms Fedra Mourmouri.

Telephone: (30) 210 9408750 (ext.222)

Email: fedra@hazliseconomist.com

Venue

Escape in a haven of relaxation and grandeur by the azure of the sea, delve in the pleasures of luxury and experience the epitome of indulgence in the dreamiest island-like resort of the Athenian Riviera. Nuzzled in a 72-acre private peninsula in the Athenian Riviera with stunning views to the Saronic Gulf, the 5 star Grand Resort Lagonissi exceeds all expectations of a luxury sea front summer resort.

Grand Resort Lagonissi 40th km Athens Sounion, Lagonissi Attica, Athens

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